This morning, I saw an ad in the paper for an estate sale that was literally 2 minutes up the road from my house. It was given by a company that I had never heard of before. I checked out the online photos and although nothing jumped out at me screaming "YOU HAVE TO HAVE ME!", I thought it was still worth a look.
So after dropping Maddie off at her first day of 5th grade ("Woo-hoo! Top of the school now!"), I headed up the road and parked in the "field" that the ad said to park in. It wasn't really a field, more like a small side yard. I got there about 30 minutes prior to the doors opening and was #11 on the list. Not too bad, I thought. There was one girl and her mother there that I see at a lot of the sales and they are both super nice. Evidently, they had been there since 6:00 am and were first in line. Did I miss something in the pictures? At about 10 till 9, someone working the sale came out and said "those of you on the list can go ahead and go in". Um, okay. There were about 40 people on the list by that time and the line was just starting to form. Needless to say, it was a free for all.
Have you ever watched Storage Wars Texas? You know Bubba, the big guy with glasses who always wears a University of Texas hat? I'm pretty sure he was there because he slammed me into the door frame tying to get by me. Ouch. Didn't even say sorry!
My whole point is that I felt really bad for the girl and her mother who had got there 3 hours early. There were no typical estate sale rules being followed or enforced at all. I'm glad it wasn't me getting there at the crack of dawn but it very easily could have been.
This is all I found
I will definitely have to watch out for this company when they have their next sale. Hopefully by then, they will have learned some of the few simple rules of giving an estate sale.
Since it's Thursday, I think I will head over and link up with Suzanne over at The Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday. Maybe I will see you there!
Until next time...
Erica
It has gotten where it is not fun going to these sales. I love them, but dealers will run all over you if you are not careful.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely.
DeleteI have only been to a few (under 5) estate sales... people there are like animals. It disgusts me. I don't like going.
ReplyDeleteI think about all the happy times the person or people had in their home with all their belongings & all these people are trekking through with their dirty ass shoes on trying to get a deal on every single part of their life, including their clothing & their walker... and they act like animals while they'll all doing it.
Haaa! This is exactly what I think when I'm at these sales too! Especially when I can tell it was a little old lady! But I have to remind myself that there must be other people like me who will be so thrilled to bring home, love and KEEP a few items from this persons past.
DeleteOh my. My capatcha code was
ReplyDeleteFEESSEAS
That is too funny! Well it looks like Erica took care of that and there will be no more word verification on our blog, yay!
DeleteI totally would have said something to the estate sale people! That is sooo not cool!
ReplyDeleteLove the flag and belt the best though! I hope the other lady and little girl found some cute things!
Erica :)
How disappointing to hear! It seems the company was disorganized and didnt reward the patient people waiting. Harrumph.
ReplyDeleteI imagine they will learn the hard way how important word of mouth is for small business.
ReplyDeleteUh-oh. One of my "dreams" is to attend an estate sale but you're making me think twice!
ReplyDeleteI'm a part-time antiques dealer, and even I don't like estate sales for the reasons stated above. I try to avoid going to them because people do act like animals.
ReplyDeleteI've been to a few sketchy estate sales, and even got into a confrontation with someone who took down the list and put up a new one with her name first on the list. I caught her doing it and I guess I humiliated her enough to where I've never seen her at another sale! I really wish that there were guidelines that ALL estate sale companies followed, and I also wish that we could sign a list online somehow. Then there would be no disappearing list. Oh, and there is a company that always charges way too much for everything, so a bunch of us "regulars" don't go to that company's sales anymore. Going to estate sales is definitely hit or miss, and we waste so much time trying to get in, but they can be alot of fun too! Love that sweet little watering can you found!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bad experience. If the company has a website, I would send a comment to them explaining your displeasure that they did not follow "estate sale protocol." It may not help, but you will feel better you had your say.
ReplyDelete